The Clever Carrot

3 weeks ago | theclevercarrot.com | Emilie Raffa

These light, tender sourdough crêpes can be made with leftover sourdough discard or active sourdough starter. Just blend, chill and cook in a non-stick pan. No crêpe pan needed!If you’ve made my sourdough pancakes, these sourdough crêpes are their lighter, elegant counterpart. But don’t let looks fool you: blending the batter is easy. Flipping them? Not so much. The first one might tear. The second one will look like you tried to fold a corner bed sheet.

1 month ago | theclevercarrot.com | Emilie Raffa

My light & fresh twist on the classic carbonara recipe blends spaghetti, zucchini noodles, eggs, and crispy bacon with an easy, off-heat technique to ensure creamy results every time. In this post, I taught you how to make creamy pasta carbonara following my master recipe. Here, we’re using the same method, same process, with the addition of julienned zucchini to elevate the taste. Paired with thin squared-spaghetti, this dish is light, fresh and naturally creamy (I don’t use heavy cream at all).

1 month ago | theclevercarrot.com | Emilie Raffa

Olive oil keeps this simple blueberry lemon ricotta cake soft and moist—ready in under 1 hour with just 20 minutes of prep. Learn how to make this recipe, step-by-step. It took me forever to get this recipe right. And by “just right” I mean: not-too-sweet, not-too-damp with a soft interior crumb (ricotta is notorious for making cakes soggy). The secret is using room temperature ingredients. You’ve probably heard this tip before in baking– but do you actually do it? In this recipe, it’s crucial.

Mar 22, 2025 | theclevercarrot.com | Emilie Raffa

This creamy, 5-ingredient sourdough Basque cheesecake recipe is made with cream cheese, sugar, eggs, heavy cream and sourdough discard (or active sourdough starter if you prefer). It’s baked without a crust in an 8-inch springform pan. Baking at a high temperature of 425 F is the Basque cheesecake’s signature move: it creates a golden brown top, a mousse-like texture around the edges, and a light and creamy center. No water bath required.

Jan 18, 2025 | theclevercarrot.com | Emilie Raffa

This hearty, one-pot pasta and white bean soup is different than most recipes. It’s made with fresh cherry tomatoes (instead of canned) which lightens and brightens the taste. Use my Italian-style vegetable stock and buttery home-cooked white beans for the ultimate comfort food experience. Pasta e fagioli or “pasta and beans” in Italian is a humble, peasant-style recipe from the cucina povera (Italian poor kitchen). It’s made with creamy white beans, tomato and pasta.